MCK agrees to implement Kahnawà:ke Trades Qualifications Program

01/10/2011

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that it passed a Mohawk Council Executive Directive today to implement the Kahnawà:ke Trades Qualifications Program to verify that trades operating within Kahnawà:ke, on the Mercier Bridge, meet minimum requirements to ensure competency within the workforce.

Included is a Qualifications Policy, which will provide for various categories of workers in high-risk trades. We (MCK) will create a pool of qualified Kahnawa’kehró:non and affiliated Indigenous workers who will then have access to the work on the Mercier Bridge.

“This Program was created to ensure that our jurisdiction is respected and maintained and that our workers have guaranteed access to the work on the bridge,” said Grand Chief Michael Ahríhrhon Delisle, Jr.

A Qualifications Committee will be formed shortly; their role will be to verify the competencies of the workers. A call for participation on this committee, as well as a call for those who wish to apply for certification, is expected to be announced tomorrow (Tuesday).

“We (the MCK) will take care of the political aspects of this important initiative,” Delisle continued. “We’ll also make sure that the various agencies, governments and contractors are informed for a smooth implementation process.”

The Kahnawà:ke media will be invited to a special meeting Tuesday afternoon for further explanation.